Door handle



June 22, 1943. A. L. BIRDSALL -E1AL DOOR HANDLE Filed Dec. as, i939 IN VENT OR.

Ma 1 m A 5% k fi fi me w W Patented June 22, 1943 DOOR HANDLE Albert L. Birdsall and Gerald V. Jakeway, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to Kecler Brass Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 26, 1939, Serial No. 310,933

(01. zen-nee) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in door handles.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved door handle particularly adapted for automobiles which is characterized by the simplicity and economy of its parts and the ease of assembly thereof.

Second, to provide a handle of the type described wherein the need for the usual escutcheon is eliminated.

Third, to provide a handle of the type described having provision for facilitating the alignment thereof with a lock or similar means associated therewith.

Fourth, to provide a handle of the type described which may be readily applied to automobile doors during the construction or assembly thereof in a minimum of time by reason of the few parts thereof.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where- Fig. l is a fragmentary view partially broken away and in section on line ll of Fig. 2, illustrating the handle of the invention in assembled relation on an automobile door panel.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, further illustrating details of the construction.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the parts of the handle construction of the assembly.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partially in section of a modified form or embodiment of the invention in which our improvements are adapted to mounting upon a molding with which vehicle doors are sometimes equipped or provided.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in a handle of the type illustrated in the patent to Jakeway, No. 2,102,714, of December 21, 1937, and mainly concerns the simplification of that structure as Well as the total elimination of any escutcheon or other outside decorative or concealing elements. In the present handle construction, the area at which the same is mounted on a door panel is completely concealed by a portion of the handle itself which is withal not of an excessively large size so that the totally resultant effect is a streamlined and highly pleasing one. The present handle is made up of a minimum of parts which are assembled abutment 9.

with a minimum of diiiiculty and provision is made for a slight swivelling movement of the handle relative to the door panel whereby to permit ready alignment with a lock or other element associated therewith.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I indicates the sheet metal panel of a door, preferably the door of an automobile which has an inwardly flanged aperture 2 to receive the handle assembly to be described.

This assembly consists of a reinforcing or body plate 3 preferably having an inturned edge flange, and which is welded to the inner side of the door panel at 4 and has an apertured well or pocket 5 to receive parts of the handle assembly to be described. Although this pocket is illustrated as made of a complete inwardly projecting annular Wall having an angled and recessed attaching portion 6, as a matter of fact only the latter is absolutely necessary, although the annular form facilitates somewhat the location of the reinforcing plate 3 relative to the flanged opening 2 and constitutes a reinforcing means.

The parts of the handle assembly to be described are clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 and consist of an annular support member 1 preferably die cast and having a cylindrical axial opening 8 extending therethrough which is flared outwardly at El and has a rounded annular seat at 82. The retainer has an offset lateral wing or The support 1 is secured in the socket or pocket 5 by means of a screw l0 extending through an opening in the inclined attaching portion 6 of the reinforcing plate and threadedly engaging a drilled and tapped recess ll in the abutment 9. Thus, the support member is secured in position flush with the panel 1 and is prevented from rotating relative thereto.

Rotatably mounted in this member l' is a bushing it having a cylindrical body portion or barrel i3 receivable in the outwardly flared portion SI of the axial opening 8 and a rounded bearing surface [4 coacting with the similarly curved bearing surface or seat 82 on the member 1. This member 1 has a rectangular axial opening l6 extending therethrough and non-rotatively receiving the similarly shaped handle spindle or chill ll. The parts, i. e., the spindle I1 and sleeve [2, are axially secured together by a knurled pin l8 extending transversely therethrough and projecting from either side thereof. This pin likewise serves as an axial abutment for an annular steel axial thrust spring l9 disposed over the cylindrical portion or barrel l3 of the sleeve and abutting the end of the support I to urge the bearing surface M on the former against the seat ill on the latter.

The handle 2 which is a streamlined one and only sufilciently Wide adjacent the aperture 2 to conceal this aperture and parts disposed therein, is suitably attached to an offset end of the spindle I! in a suitable manner. 1

By the foregoing details of construction, we provide a handle which is extremely simple in its parts and very easy to assemble. Moreover, a certain swiveling movement of the handle I! and bushing l3 relative to the axis of the spindle is permitted by the flared surface, thereby facilitating aligning of the assembly with a lock or other assembly associated therewith. The need for an escutcheon or ornamental or concealing plate is completely eliminated. The foregoing parts may be supplied to automobile manufacturers for assembly on the doors during the course of manufacture of the latter.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the panel I is provided with a molding 2| with which the handle 22 is associated, the handle 22 being provided with a spindle 23. The mounting member 24 is seated in an opening 25 in the molding aligned with an opening 26 in the panel I, the support being shouldered at 21 to engage the opening in the panel. The panel is provided with a reinforcing plate 28 corresponding to the reinforcing plate 3. The support 21 is held to its seat by means of the screw 29 arranged through the outer edge 30 of the door. The support is provided with a concaved bearing seat 3| coacting with the curved bearing 32 on the handle so that the handle is supported for adjustment substantially as in the structure described, the bushing however being omitted and the handle itself being provided with a spherical bearing element coacting with the bearing seat in the support. the support member 24 coacts with the lugs 34 on the spindle for retaining the handle in its assembled relation to the member 24.

We have illustrated and described our improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. We have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A handle assembly for automobile doors,

comprising a reinforcing body plate adapted to be welded to an apertured door panel and having an inwardly projecting angled extension thereon, a tubular support member receivable in the aperture of the panel, threaded means engaging said extension and support member to fixedly secure the latter in operative relation to the panel substantially flush with the exterior surface thereof, a bushing telescopingly receivable in the bore of said support member for rotary movement therein, said bushing and support member having coacting swiveling thrust surfaces and the bore of the support member being flared outwardly relative to the body of the bushing for predetermined swiveling movement of the bushing in the support member relative to the axis of the bushing, a handle spindle non-rotatably received in the bushing, and end thrust means coacting with the bushing and support member to maintain said thrust surfaces in engagement.

2. A handle assembly for automobile doors,

A washer 33 at the inner end of comprising a reinforcing body plate adapted to be welded to an apertured door panel, a tubular support member receivable in the aperture of the panel, threaded means engaging said plate and support member to fixedly secure the latter in operative relation to the panel substantially flush with the exterior surface thereof, a bushing telescopingly receivable in the bore of said support member for rotary movement therein, said bushing and support member having coacting swiveling thrust surfaces and the support member being flared outwardly relative to the body of the bushing for predetermined swiveling movement of the bushing in the bore of the support member relative to the axis of the bushing, a handle spindle non-rotatably received in the bushing, and end thrust means coacting with the bushing and sup-port member to maintain said thrust surfaces in engagement.

3. A handle assembly for automobile doors, comprising a tubular bushing retainer receivable in an aperture in the panel, means to secure said retainer in operative relation to the panel substantially flush with the exterior surface thereof, a bushing telescopingly receivable in the bore of said retainer for rotary movement therein, said bushing and retainer having coacting thrust surfaces and the bore of the retainer being flared outwardly relative to the bushing for predetermined swiveling movement of the bushing in the retainer relative to the axis of the bushing, a handle spindle n'on-rotatably received in the bushing, and end thrust spring means coacting with the bushing and retainer to maintain said thrust surfaces in engagement.

4. A handle assembly for automobile doors and the like, comprising a supporting plate adapted to be fixedly secured to the panel of the door adjacent an aperture formed therein to receive the handle assembly, said plate having an element extending inwardly of the panel at an angle to the plane thereof, a bushing retainer located in the aperture of said panel, screw means engageable with said angled element and said retainer to maintain the latter in fixed relation substantially flush with the panel, said retainer having a cylindrical opening therethrough including a rounded thrust seat portion and a flared body portion, a bushing disposed in said opening and having a correspondingly rounded thrust bearing portion and a cylindrical body, said flared portion enabling swiveling movement of said bushing in said retainer on said thrust seat and bearing portions, a spindle non-rotatably received by said bushing, means for pre venting relative axial movement of the spindle and bushing, and means for resiliently maintaining said thrust portions in operative engagement with one another.

5. A handle assembly for automobile doors and the like, comprising a supporting plate adapted to be fixedly secured to the panel of the door adjacent an aperture formed therein to receive the handle assembly, said plate having an element extending inwardly of the panel at an angle to the plane thereof, a bushing retainer located in the aperture of said panel, screw means engageable with said angled element and said retainer to maintain the latter in fixed relation substantially flush with the panel, said retainer having a cylindrical opening therethrough including a rounded thrust seat portion and a flared body portion, a bushing disposed in said opening and having a correspondingly rounded thrustv bearing portion, said flared portion enabling swivel ing movement of said bushing in said retainer on said thrust, seat and bearing portions, a spindle non-rotatably received by said bushing, and means for resiliently maintaining said thrust portions in operative engagement with one an other.

6. A handle assembly for automobile doors and the like, comprising a supporting plate adapted to be fixedly secured to the panel of the door adjacent an aperture formed therein to receive the handle assembly, said plate having a portion extending inwardly of the panel at an angle to the plane thereof, a bushing retainer located in the aperture of said panel, screw means engageable with said angled portion and said retainer to maintain the latter in fixed relation substantially flush with the panel, said retainer having a cylindrical opening therethrough, a bushing disposed in said opening, means providing a rotatable and swiveling mounting for said bushing in said opening, and a spindle secured to said bushing and adapted to receive an actuating handle, said bushing being restrained from axial displacement from the opening.

7. A handle assembly for an automobile door panel and the like, comprising a bushing retainer disposed substantially flush with the adjacent outer exposed surface on the panel, means disposed interiorly of the panel and engageable with said retainer to maintain the latter in fixed relation in an aperture in the panel, said retainer having a cylindrical opening therethrough, a bushing disposed in said opening, means providing a rotatable and swiveling mounting for said bushing in said opening, and a spindle secured to said bushing and adapted to receive an actuating handle, said bushing being restrained from axial displacement from the opening.

8. A handle for automobile doors and the like, comprising a bushing retainer, means for securing said bushing retainer in an opening formed in the panel of a door to receive the same, said retainer having an aperture extending therethrough and including an enlarged rounded thrust bearing surface and a flared portion coni,

centric with said aperture, a bushing disposed in said aperture and having a cylindrical body portion adjacent said flared portion of the aperture and an enlarged rounded thrust bearing surface engaging the corresponding surface on said re tainer, a handle carrying spindle, said bushing having an axial opening receiving said spindle, a pin extending transversely through said spindle and bushing to secure the same together, and an annular spring element surrounding said bushing and engaging said pin and. the bushing retainer to resiliently urge said thrust bearing surfaces together, said flared portion of the retainer aperture permitting swiveling movement of the spindle and bushing in the retainer tofacilitate alignment thereof with a lock or other parts to be associated therewith.

9. A handle for automobile doors and the like, comprising a bushing retainer, means for securing said bushing retainer in an opening formed in the panel of a door to receive the same, said retainer having an aperture extending therethrough and including an enlarged rounded thrust bearing surface concentric with said aperture, a bushing disposed in said aperture and having an enlarged rounded thrust bearing surface engaging the corresponding surface on said retainer, a handle carrying spindle, said bushing having an axial opening receiving said spindle, a pin extending transversely through said spindle and bushing to secure the same together, and an annular spring element surrounding said bushing and engaging said pin and the bushing retainer t resiliently urge said thrust bearing surfaces together.

10. A handle assembly for mounting a handle on a door panel having an opening therein, comprising a support member substantially flush with the adjacent outer exposed surface on said panel seated in said opening, means for securing 'said support member in fixed relation to the panel, said support member having a hole therethrough with an outwardly facing bearing seat surrounding said opening therein, said handle being provided with a spindle disposed through said opening in said support member, said spindle having a bearing member non-rotatably secured thereto and telescoped within said support memher, said bearing member being provided with a bearing surface surrounding said spindle and coacting with said bearing seat in said support, and means at the inner end of said support coacting with said spindle to urge the latter axially for retaining said handle in place, said last named means and support being relatively movable for permitting rotary and limited rocking movement of the spindle.

11. A handle assembly for mounting a handle on a door panel having an opening therein, comprising a support member substantially flush with the adjacent outer exposed surface on said panel seated in said opening, means for securing said support member in fixed relation to the panel, said support member having a hole therethrough with an outwardly facing bearing seat surrounding said opening therein, said handle being provided with a spindle disposed through said opening in said support member, said spindle having a bearing member non-rotatably secured thereto and telescoped within said support member, said bearing member being provided with a bearing surface surrounding said spindle and coaoting with said bearing seat in said support, and means at the inner end of said support coacting with said spindle for retaining said handle,

ALBERT L. BIRDSALL. GERALD V. JAKEWAY. 

